The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Revelation 9:15-21, “And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind.
16 The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.
17 And this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone.
18 A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths.
19 For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm.
20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk;
21 and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts.”

The Jews in the State of Israel are suffering a slaughter physically brought upon them by Hamas. It is gruesome to observe even a fraction of what assails them. Those of us who have been following Scripture that speaks of Israel in the end times, know that it has been prophesied again and again in the Bible.

Further, it needs to be said that whether Jew or Gentile, what matters is what occurs to those who reject God’s Son, the LORD Jesus Christ. It’s not altogether whether people attend church, or whether they hold membership in a church, or live a life that brings help to those who are in physical or emotional need. None of these things are what occasions suffering and devastation to fall upon mankind.

He has set forth His reasons in the pages of Holy Scripture. Those who fail to
understand, are those who neglect the Scriptures in their own lives. Even many of those who read His Word, do so in such a slip-shod fashion as to come away as
spiritually empty as if they had never read the Word at all.

God-called pastors and teachers are responsible to explain the meaning of the Word. Yet, multiple sermons are filled with feel-good trivia that never touches the root or meaning of Scripture.

The LORD is not the author of confusion; yet, He allows confusion to reign in the minds and hearts of those who reject Him. The failure to accept Him as LORD and
Savior is equal to harshly rejecting Him altogether. We, who know and love Him, are responsible to share His Word with others. At this point, we must be something before we can do anything to help others to know Him. We are also to encourage others to help us in sharing Christ Jesus with those who are lost.

There is no time equal to Christmas for sharing Jesus as LORD and Savior. Pray urgently for our Jewish friends! Pray for all who do not know Him. Pray especially, for those who know Him, but do not honor His will. If you need to know more, just allow me point you to some whose delight is sharing Christ!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Genesis 32:24-30, “Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
25 When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him.
26 Then he said, ‘Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.’ But he said, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’
27 So he said to him, ‘What is your name?’ And he said, ‘Jacob.’
28 He said, ‘Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.’
29 Then Jacob asked him and said, ‘Please tell me your name.’ But he said, ‘Why is it that you ask my name?’ And he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, ‘I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.’”

When was the last time you wrestled? As I thought on that question, I realized that I had wrestled recently with my great-grandsons! Whew! You would be well advised to be prepared to defend yourself. My grands don’t know their own strength! Believe me, age is not a factor, at least as far as they are concerned.

Even more importantly, when was the last time you wrestled with God? You wanted to ask Him in prayer, but knew the virtual impossibility of obtaining what you were asking even before you dared to ask.

Jacob may have physically wrestled with God; I’m not sure about that. What I am
sure of is that God came out the victor! Why didn’t Jacob think of that before he
started wrestling? Why don’t we? We read the Word and the LORD speaks to us
through it. He identifies clearly what it is that He wants from us. We know He’s more powerful! We know He has our best interest at heart! Why do we object?

Human nature wants what human nature wants. Just observe babies. If they’re
pampered and allowed to have their way, they will grow up with the knowledge that they are always right and will, thereafter, always want their own way. I think that’s what happened with Jacob. Ultimately, however, Jacob sought the LORD’s blessing.

I know; it’s what happens to us as well. Maybe you’ve virtually lived and dreamed of becoming a golf pro; but the LORD wants you on the mission field in a foreign country. The question is: “Who knows what is best?” When you admit the LORD
knows best, you surrender to His will. His will is always best! Yield your life to Him!
In the short run –and long run—we always do well when we yield to the LORD!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 3:9-18, “Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD or loathe His reproof,
12 For whom the LORD loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding.
14 For her profit is better than the profit of silver and her gain better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels; and nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who hold her fast.”

Would you be surprised if I were to tell you that I’ve always hated “instructions”?
That statement, however, has to be tempered somewhat. There were some things that I knew I did not understand. One always needs instruction about things he
doesn’t understand. What I hated were instructions that required me to do things I didn’t want to do. Oh, so you’ve had instructions like that, too, huh?

The instructions I loved were instructions from Scripture. They taught me things I
did not know, but needed to know –instructions for life! My parents knew the LORD and lived in His Word; therefore, the instructions I learned from them were
what they had learned from Him.

Their instructions to me showed me that the LORD loved me, too. So, I was challenged to become more like Him. Was I always true to what I learned? (I’d like
to skip that question!) No, I was like you: some things I liked and some I did not!
But, the LORD’s Word told me that the instruction my parents gave me, came from Him, so I knew it was good teaching.

When I look at my great-grandchildren (I currently have four!), I want them to receive the same biblical instruction I received. Thus far, they are being taught the same as I was taught. It all originates with the Bible! It’s from God to great-grandparents to grandparents to parents to the rest of us. Just to think how He has equipped us to learn and help others. Praise be to the LORD! And pass us His Instructions!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 3:3-8, “Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.”

Funny thing how incidents today so often remind us of things of the past. I can recall the names of some who simply could not be trusted with anything. In fact,
if truth hit them smack in the face, they would deny it!

That wasn’t my problem. My problem was forgetting the lies those people told — either to me or simply in my presence. Isn’t it strange how lies will stick in your mind, but the truth won’t? It’s that “sticking” that the LORD requires when He says, “Do not let kindness and truth leave you…” –because when they do, the negatives will rush back in and stick!

Yet, when we consciously dismiss the negatives from our minds, trust in the LORD rushes in like water when it’s released from a dam. From the way the LORD phrases it, trust in Him replaces the negatives with positives, and all becomes well once again.

I’ve experienced all of that, and I imagine you have, too. Our problem is maintaining confidence in His Truth! Yet, once again, the answer comes from Scripture: “Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.”

There’s so much trouble in the world! Focusing on negative things tends to make us part of the problem instead part of the solution. The world has enough problems; it doesn’t need for us to get on its side. Be positive; be pure! Keep your
mind set on the good things in life! Laugh and be joyous! Heaven will be like that!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Genesis 46:1-7, “So Israel set out with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
2 God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, ‘Jacob, Jacob.’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’
3 He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there.
4 “I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will close your eyes.”
5 Then Jacob arose from Beersheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob and their little ones and their wives in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.
6 They took their livestock and their property, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and came to Egypt, Jacob and all his descendants with him:
7 his sons and his grandsons with him, his daughters and his granddaughters, and all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt.”

We seldom think today of what was in ancient times called “the family leader.”
It used to be that way; but over time, leadership in families fell to those who
either possessed the qualities others did not possess or, were by-passed by for those deemed more capable of leading.

In any event, those who possessed the position or qualifications for family leadership moved ahead, taking along with them those who knew nowhere else to go. Jacob was God’s chosen leader. The LORD called him into that position and the family-multitude followed him.

Leadership in any situation is important! Especially is spiritual leadership of supreme importance. That is precisely why the LORD is the only One competent to appoint it. Here the LORD selected Jacob; and Jacob responded as any truly spiritual individual should. He said, “Here I am.”

Denial of true spiritual leadership is an ipso facto denial of the LORD. Such is extremely dangerous! Those whom the LORD has chosen to lead His people may
not always agree with our thinking; still, the LORD is the Supreme Leader! All responsibility is ultimately His. He knows best; and we, who are His, had best follow Him and the one He has chosen.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom